The Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards, which annually present $112,000 in scholarships to fifty-six New York City public high school seniors for original poetry, fiction & drama, memoir, graphic novel, and spoken word poetry compositions, were held on June 7. Since 1994, more than two million dollars have been awarded to students and their schools by Random House, and now Penguin Random House, through this awards competition. In this twenty-third year for the competition, more than 1,300 entries were received from a number of diverse public high schools throughout the city’s five boroughs. (more…)

Historical fiction as a genre is powerful in its ability both to educate and to provide insight into the voices and experiences of those who came before us. Ruthanne Lum McCunn’s novel Thousand Pieces of Gold (Beacon Press) does just that, tracing the tribulations of Polly Bemis, a nineteenth-century Chinese woman who is sold into slavery and prostitution in America and who struggles against all odds to claim her independence. In McCunn’s adaptation of this true story, Polly’s father refers to his daughter as his treasure, his “thousand pieces of gold,” and his decision to sell her reveals the desperation brought on by intersecting historical forces in China at that time. What follows is an exploration of the value and dignity of human life as Polly perseveres and pioneers across the American frontier. (more…)

On Friday, June 28th, 2013, Random House hosted its Fifth Annual Author Event for NYC Educators in its midtown NYC headquarters. The event was attended by 200+ K-12 educators, school librarians, and college professors/administrators. A PDF of the event program may be viewed here.

Since its publication nearly three years ago, Jay-Z’s powerful memoir, Decoded, has continued to engage readers, unfolding the story of legendary rap artist Jay-Z through a blend of lyrics and prose.

Upon reading Decoded, the Mighty Teen Scholars program of Philadelphia, PA discussed the book, specifically talking about the new, diversified age of patriotism that Decoded suggests is replacing an older, more rigid patriotism of the past.

Mighty Teen Scholars helps teenagers to think and write with clarity so that they can achieve success in school, work, and life. Teenagers congregate every Wednesday night to interview professionals, plan for college, discuss and write about current events, and, in this case, talk about books.

We’re delighted to share the opinions of these introspective, enthusiastic teenage readers, as shaped by their reading of Decoded. (more…)

On Friday, June 29th, Random House hosted its Fourth Annual Author Event for NYC Educators in its midtown NYC headquarters. The event was attended by 200+ K-12 educators, school librarians, and college professors/administrators. A PDF of the event program may be viewed here.

Inspired by the magical relationship between gripping storytelling and the roar of the campfire, we encourage you to check out the Campfire Graphic Novels series. This new series features classic novels, such as Frankenstein and Alice in Wonderland, transformed into beautifully illustrated, dynamic graphic novels. The series includes original stories and biographies, and adaptations of myth and legends from around the world featuring some of the finest writers and artists.

Teacher Chris Wilson of the award-winning The Graphic Classroom blog highly recommends the Campfire Graphic Novel series saying, “They do what they are intended to do and do it in a way that excites kids about classic literature.”

Read the important book that’s topping many school lists. Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years.